ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the health landscape for the entire population but for future mothers facing the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) it has induced, uncertainty, social isolation, and fear for their unborn child, and has contributed to aggravated stress and anxiety. The purpose of a digital follow-up protocol is to study which specific aspects of the pandemic (e.g., viral exposure, psychological vulnerability) may lead to adverse mother and offspring outcomes and aims to understand how maternal physical and mental health is associated with symptoms observed in their offspring, and how these symptoms evolve over time. METHOD(S): The protocol uses a prospective cohort design to study the biological risks associated with pre- and post-partum SARS-CoV-2 exposure of mothers and the neurodevelopmental risk of their offspring. Given the multifaceted nature of Covid-19 exposure which seem to accumulate over time, network analyses will be conducted on data from three maternal (within the first 12 months after birth) and three child assessments (at 1,3 and 6 yrs. of age) collected using online digital questionnaires and surveys which includes (maternal) depression, anxiety, health and trauma symptoms, exposure to SARS-CoV-2, and psychosocial risk while their offspring will be assessed for cognitive and behavioral consequences. RESULT(S): Ultimately, we anticipate that an easily accessible digital follow-up facilitates early detection of neurocognitive and behavioral problems, based on recognition of maternal and child risk. CONCLUSION(S): The resulting risk stratification of child cognitive and behavioral difficulty over time may lead to the development of timely and personalized intervention programs.